Richard Currell Delivered from Repeated Demonic Possession to Be Ordained a Priest (1847)

“I got to the house about nine o'clock in the evening. I scarcely got in before they began to swear at me. I rebuked them, and they came out of him; but as fast as one lot went another came, declaring C. should not go to Coventry, each party tearing him and trying to kill him: thus they continued until one o'clock. We then started for Coventry, and had not gone far before they attacked him again, and threw him down in the road, and tried to kill him. I rebuked them in the name of the Lord, and they left him. We got to Coventry about four o'clock in the morning. He was very weak, but we got him to bed. He remained quiet until about ten o'clock, when they attacked him again, and continued to do so at intervals until the evening. We then went to the police station, and told the inspector that a man was being murdered by evil spirits, and we wanted protection. He sent two policemen with us. When we got to the house, the spirits began to swear at the policemen, and told them they should not come in. The policemen were frightened, and said they would not stay, for they had never seen such a thing before. They left us, and we were then left to contend with the powers of darkness alone. When we laid our hands upon him, the devil entered him and tried to prevent us from ordaining him; but the power of Jesus Christ in the holy priesthood was stronger than the devil, and after all the endeavours of the powers of darkness to prevent us, in the name of Jesus Christ we ordained brother Richard Currell to the office of a priest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

— Elder Smith, as reported in The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 9, No. 15